The queasies took flight in my gut as we stepped into the arbitration chamber, and I clenched Walt's hand tight. The room wasn't that fancy, with gray tables and chairs for each opposing side, angled toward a center plas-steel desk with a high-back chair where the official Arbitrator sat. Between the tables sat an upright lectern where, presumably, a witness may speak. Two windows on one side let in natural light. The only things that might be loosely called decorations were a copy of the provincial constitution pasted on a wall opposite the windows, and a Mars flag hanging down from a crooked pole behind the desk. I could just make out the reddish circle representing the planet on a simple dark background of stars.

By Martian Provincial laws, as Jyn explained it, all disputes appeared first before an Arbitrator. This was meant to streamline the legal process and avoid the drawn-out trials and posturing that sometimes occurred on Earth, although powerful people abused the system, regardless. Today's appearance wasn't so much a trial as a hearing, where both sides presented key evidence. The Arbitrator had broad powers to dismiss a lawsuit, or move it forward to a formal court trial, with or without judgement. In cases with an arbitration judgement, the court may decline to take the case, leaving the judgement standing.

To my heart-warming surprise, the three rows of chairs at the back were full of Martian brides, there to support Walt and me. I knew Elena and Amahli had come, traveling all the way from Olympus. Riya stayed behind to look after the chickens — new baby chicks took a lot of care. A small cheer went up as we walked in and took our places.

Hushed boos rose as the plaintiff attorney walked in, a tall light-skinned woman with gray-streaked brown hair tied in a tight bun and a blank, almost bored-like expression. Following close behind was the devil himself — by my estimation, anyway — Fleming Barnes, wearing a big-money black suit. As his eyes cast hell-fire at me, I put on a little sarcastically sweet smile and gave him a little wave. Jyn warned me about causing trouble, but I thought this didn't go too far.

Preceded by a white-shirted bailiff, the Arbitrator walked in from another door behind his desk. He was a tan-skinned, gray-haired man wearing a simple black robe with a red Mars Federation crest below one shoulder. I wasn't sure whether to rise, but when nobody else did, I remained seated.

After the Arbitrator sat at the desk, the bailiff announced in a booming baritone voice, "Court Arbitration case CL-5796.1, Mars Land Bank versus Mavis Jones and Walt Green, and case CL-5796.2, Mars Land Bank versus Mavis Jones, is now in session."

The Arbitrator looked down at a tablet-viewer, touched it to mirror output on two large view screens mounted high on front and back walls, then looked up. "Both councils previously agreed to hear these cases simultaneously, is that still true?"

After both lawyers replied, "Yes, your honor," the Arbitrator nodded and muttered, "So entered." He scanned the murmuring crowd with narrowed eyes and added, "I remind all those present that the rules of legal arbitration are in force, and I will not allow any disruptions." After the gals went as quiet as church mice, he turned to Fleming's lawyer. "The Plaintiff may begin."

Stepping up with a confident air and a smug grin, the plaintiff lawyer approached the lectern and laid down her tablet-viewer. After clearing her throat, she began, "The plaintiff submits for arbitration, contracts legally signed by the defendants." She poked the tablet, and two documents appeared on the overhead view-screens. "First, the land grant contract signed by both defendants, and second, the emigration contract signed by Ms. Mavis Jones."

By her direction, the documents scrolled to the damning parts. I bristled as the attorney pitched a mocking glance at me and Walt, then turned back to the Arbitrator. "This case is quite simple, your honor. The contracts require marriage. In the land grant contract, the defendants falsely claimed to be married to acquire more favorable conditions, and in the emigration contract, marriage within forty-eight hours was required of Ms. Jones to a chosen spouse. These marriages never occurred, your honor. And as such, fraud was committed to the financial detriment of the Mars Land Bank."

With another smug grin, the plaintiff attorney picked up her tablet-viewer and sat down. Fleming's eyes sparkled in mockery, and a I've-got-you type of grin appeared on his lips, directed right at little 'ol me.

With a low growl, I stiffened and rose slightly from my chair. But from both sides, Walt grabbed one arm and Jyn the other, easing me back down on my seat. Probably a good thing they did.

"So entered," the Arbitrator said in an even voice, then shifted eyes to Jyn. "Defense counsel, you're up. It would drastically shorten this hearing if you would produce a valid dated marriage license."

Jyn's forlorn sigh shadowed my heart as she stepped to the lectern. "Unfortunately, your honor, I cannot." Standing tall, her expression firmed. "However, the defense alleges these lawsuits were retaliatory and punitive in nature. As such, we submit a countersuit against the Mars Land Bank and Mr. Fleming Barnes, in particular." Jyn touched her viewer. "I have transferred the document--"

As Fleming scowled, providing a little spark to my spirit, his attorney jumped up and interrupted, "We object, your honor. This is outrageous and irrelevant."

"Sit down, counselor," the Arbitrator replied with narrowed eyes. "I will decide what is relevant. You will have your chance to challenge later."

"Thank you, your honor," Jyn said, nodding. "As I was saying..."

Over the next hour, Jyn presented our case with the fire of a revival preacher — the ethical grayness of the arranged marriages; the lax matchmaking as demonstrated by Riya's abuse and Damion's conviction; the wildfire set by someone in a Land Bank flyer; the Broker's assault; Fleming's secretive financial ties; and the suspicious low-ball land buyout offers that came soon after foreclosure notices. Fleming's face reddened and his fists clenched tighter with each accusation Jyn made, while his attorney never changed her sour scowl. The Martian bride gallery might have whooped and hollered, but a pre-emptive warning from the Arbitrator at the first peep squelched that. Had to admit, Jyn made me a believer, but my belief wasn't what counted.

After Jyn retreated from the lectern, the enemy lawyer claimed it with a smirk, shaking her head. "Well, I must say, that was a spirited defense, but entirely irrelevant and potentially slanderous. All the evidence presented was circumstantial at best and inflammatory at worst. None of it conclusively proved Mr. Fleming Barnes or the Mars Land Bank of any wrongdoing or retaliation. The plaintiff moves to dismiss the defense countersuit."

The Arbitrator put a hand to his chin and shifted his gaze to the defense table. My throat tightened as a moment passed. But when his expression softened to sympathy, a chill crawled down my spine. "The defense countersuit is dismissed without prejudice and shall not be considered in judgement. However, it may be refiled at a later time outside of these cases."

My heart dropped like a rock in the ocean, settling into the murky depths. Walt and I sat in stunned silence, hardly breathing. He reached across under the table and held my hand. This was our one shot, our only hope, now discarded like a rejected manuscript. Icy dread chilled my gut as losing our farm, everything we worked for, became the likely outcome.

With a deep breath, Jyn rose. "I request some time for discussion with my clients."

The Arbitrator nodded. "Let's break early for lunch. Arbitration will reconvene in two hours."

Hushed murmurs swirled as Walt and I walked out like zombies.

Just outside the door, Fleming pushed past us, then turned back with a mocking grin. "What was it you told me earlier? That I wouldn't get away with this? It's a hard lesson, but I always get what I want."

Seething rage boiled up from my core, and I stepped forward with clenched fists, gritting teeth. But Walt held me back, and wisely so. Whupping Fleming's arse right now would have felt real good, though.

With a restraining arm across my shoulders, Walt narrowed his eyes at our adversary. "It's not over yet, Fleming."

The grin came back to Fleming's face, and with a dismissive chuckle, he strutted away.

The Martian sunlight provided little warmth as we gathered outside in the plaza. I slumped down, sitting next to Walt on the wide edge of a planter box, and put my face in my hands.

Finally, looking up with moist eyes, I broke the silence, summarizing the condition. "Things look bad, don't they?"

"Yes," Jyn replied in a solemn voice, dipping her head. "The Arbitrator will rule against us."

"What if we promised to get married soon?" I asked, but not daring to look into Walt's eyes, knowing this would be for the wrong reasons. "Would they at least let us keep our land?"

Drawing lips tight, Jyn shook her head. "It's too late for that, I'm afraid. All we can do now is ask for reduced judgement during the penalty phase. Our evidence made Fleming and the Land Bank look bad, and maybe the Arbitrator will be sympathetic."

"Walt?" a female voice rang out from the distance. An older couple paced toward us, winding around the green leaves hanging over another rectangular planter.

"My parents," Walt whispered, releasing me from his embrace. "Let me talk to them first."

I noticed the family resemblance. Walt's father was an older version of Walt — tall, lanky, with a graying mustache. His mother, a shorter, green-eyed brunette, had some of the same facial features. They both wore functional but dressy clothing, reflecting the merchants they were. I watched as they humbly embraced Walt a few steps away.

"Son, we are sorry," Walt's father said, dipping his head. "We should have never forced you into a marriage. We thought we knew what was best for you, but we were wrong."

Walt's mother, eyes watering, placed a hand on his shoulder. "This is all our fault."

"No," Walt said, shaking his head, "I made my choices. I just needed to show you I could make it on my own."

Walt's father placed a hand on Walt's other shoulder. "We know, son. But you have nothing to prove to us."

"I'd like you to meet someone." Turning, Walt beckoned me over. "This is Mavis, my business partner and farm co-owner. Mavis, these are my parents, Arthur and Virginia."

"Pleased to meet you both," I said, extending a hand.

But they did not take my hand, instead gawking at me all wide-eyed and drop-jawed like I was some swamp monster.

"Mavis Jones?" Virginia finally said after an awkward moment.

"Umm, yeah?" How did they know my last name?

The gawks turned into knowing grins. Then Arthur and Virginia looked at one another and let out a string of chuckles, confusing me to no end.

"What is it?" Walt asked, wrinkling his forehead.

"Son," Arthur replied, smacking Walt on the back, "this was the woman you were matched with. Mavis was to be your wife."

Holy crap... Walt and I gazed at each other, frozen, neither of us able to say a word. Of all the ironies, this took the cake.

Eventually, Walt broke out of the spell and motioned toward Jyn as she stepped forward. "Oh, Mom and Dad, this is our lawyer, Jyn."

Virginia looked up into the taller woman's eyes. "Is there anything we can do to help?" she asked. "Anything at all?"

An enormous smile broke out on Jyn's face, a sunshine parting the raging storm clouds type of smile. "Oh, Ms. Green, you just made all the difference in the world."

*****

Returning to the courtroom, our mood had taken a big one-hundred-eighty-degree turn. Even the plaintiff attorney noticed, furrowing her brow with confusion.

"Does the defense have anything else?" the Arbitrator asked.

"Yes, your honor," Jyn replied, stepping to the lectern. "As stipulated in the emigration contract, Mavis Jones was required to enter an arranged marriage to a man specifically chosen for her." Jyn touched her tablet-viewer and transferred a document provided by Virginia to the overhead view-screen. "That man was Walter Green, her co-defendant."

Scattered gasps and excited mumbles broke out from the Mars brides in attendance, but quickly quieted by a pointed glare from the Arbitrator.

"Further," Jyn continued as a half-grin rose on her face, "by Mars provisional law and established court precedent, if intent of marriage is established, then publicly proclaimed, and the couple resides together, then the couple is considered legally married. The defense asserts that intent was established by the signed emigration contract provided by the plaintiff; public proclamation was fulfilled by the land claim contract, also provided by the plaintiff; and then the defendants resided together on their land claim. Thus, by law, Walter Green and Mavis Jones were legally married, thus fulfilling the contract requirements and rendering the plaintiff's complaint moot. The defense moves for dismissal."

"Does the plaintiff have anything to add?" the Arbitrator asked, shifting eyes their way.

Fleming and his lawyer gazed at each other, looking like someone whacked them upside the head with a legal stick, namely Jyn. Eventually, Fleming nudged his attorney, and she stood.

"Your honor," she stammered, "this is preposterous. The marriage statutes... They were never meant to be applied in this manner. Clearly, the defendants meant to defraud..."

Jyn stood. "The defendant's state of mind is not a contract provision, your honor."

The plaintiff lawyer opened her mouth, but no more words came out.

"Very well," the Arbitrator said. "Ruling is made in favor of the defendants and the both plaintiff lawsuits are dismissed. This arbitration hearing is now adjourned."

As the Arbitrator rose and walked out, I jumped up, flung my arms into the air, and shouted, "Woo Hoo!" Boisterous cheers from the crowd added to the celebration. The Arbitrator paused at the door, then looked back at me with a grin before he disappeared.

I wrapped Jyn in a bear hug, lifting her up from the floor. "Thank you, my friend," I whispered.

Then, there in the courtroom in front of everyone, I grabbed handfuls of my not-not-husband's shirt and laid a big, wet kiss right on his lips. He didn't mind in the least.

*****

With the celebrations at Janus' pub still echoing in my mind, Walt and I returned to our room. With a squeal, I plopped back on the bed.

"Hell of a day," Walt said with a grin. "In a good way."

"Yeah."

"The only thing I regret was that Fleming didn't get his due."

In all the hubbub after the trial, I hadn't noticed Fleming and his lawyer leaving. I took a page from Riya's book and just let him go, sending the butthurt away with him. "Don't care 'bout him anymore. But we damaged his reputation, and karma might yet bite him in the arse."

Walt laid down beside me on his back. "You realize now, though, that we are not-not-married. I'm good with that."

"Me, too." A wide smile came to my face. "Turns out, it's not so complicated after all."

We could have gone through with the arranged marriage and avoided most of the trouble, but somehow, I don't think it would have turned out so good. Walt and I came out stronger together because of it.

Turning to me, Walt lifted an eyebrow and put on that boyish grin that always softened my heart. "You know, we haven't had a proper wedding night yet..."

Spinning over, I straddled my not-not-husband, pinning him down on the bed with hands on his shoulders. Rounding my lips all seductive-like, I cooed, "So, whatcha gonna do 'bout that?"